Nau mai haere mai.

Over the weekend former EOHS student Courtney Duncan claimed the World Motocross Champs for the second year in a row.

This is an amazing achievement and quite a story of resilience and determination.

What I like best about this achievement is that she has had to overcome another difficult year due to Covid 19 but also another significant accident at the WMX Race 2 at Mantova track.

What can not be underestimated is the amount of work that Courtney would have had to put in behind the scenes with her team to get the setup on the bike competitive and herself race fit. The uncertainty of the year and whether the WMX series would even be running this year. Travelling overseas into Covid 19 hotspots in Europe adding another level of complexity, stress and anxiety. Overcoming a number of barriers and setbacks showing determination, perseverance and resilience.

Hard work, by itself, is not always enough at this level. Taking calculated risks are sometimes needed to edge out your competitors to achieve something great.

We can all take a lesson from this whether that be at school or in our lives outside of school. Being brave enough to take risks will see us achieve wonderful, unexpected things. Taking yourself outside of your comfort zone is where real growth and development takes place.

Two Fridays ago we had a number of students being brave, taking risks and standing in front of their peers during the annual Speech competition. I am assured that all participants did a fantastic job and the speeches were entertaining and of the highest quality. Well done to all students that participated but in particular those that placed.

1st Senior Speech contest - Luke Paton

1st Junior Speech contest - Abigail Paton

1st Intermediate Speech contest - Ryan Worth

I would also like to acknowledge these students that have excelled in their gateway/ careers programmes:

1.Jared Dewar: gaining an apprenticeship in his field of interest (electrician). It is a very pleasing conclusion to his commitment to his Gateway work placement on Tuesdays throughout the year.

2. Max Hosie: for being awarded a certificate by Otago Polytechnic marking 100% attendance. Only 1 other student achieved this. A considerable achievement, considering it is a year-long course.

3. Max Hosie, Brodie Thom and Ben Howard for being awarded a certificate in automotive engineering by Otago Polytechnic on completion of their year-long, 1 day a week course.

4. Health and Safety course: I received an email from the tutor congratulating all students and naming specific students who stood out for their ownership of their learning and helpfulness towards others (Mitchell McLeod, Amy Turner, Patrick Reid and Lily Blasby)

The term is quickly coming to an end for our senior students with the last day next Wednesday. Those sitting external examinations should be getting into their revision while those completing internal assessments can come back into school (in full uniform) to complete these.

Nga mihi nui.

Marcus Cooper